In a message dated 4/30/99 1:10:55 PM, bbailey@clark.net writes:
<< Your "Why Accessibility?" page at http://aware.hwg.org/why/
gets at your (a) and (e) points below, but what about (b) (c) (d) -- not to
mention (f) -- how much more prominently a page will list in the search
engines and portals? >>
Don't be discouraged, but the point is moot my dear.
When you read the comments of people opposing accessible design, it is
obvious they didn't read past the first sentence of Schaffer's article. ( or
anyone's article regarding the same subject)
They won't go to the ADA home page and read about what the law is about They
won't go to AWARE, or to the FCC's Disabilities Issues Task Force Home Page
[http://www.fcc.gov/dtf/] or the Presidents Affirmative Action Homepage for
PWD's page [http://www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd/pubs/ek98/affirmat.htm]
or to the WAI homepage or anywhere else....and they believe Laura
Schlessinger is a real doctor.
All the information in the world at their fingertips..... POOF!!! What is the
purpose of the internet in the first place?
We all might as well become beta testers for SETI:
[http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/register/]
My favorite comments from a "Not Yet disAbled webmasters": (don't ask me to
name names.)
"...As for ADA, I agree with it, but also disagree with it. Like it or not,
there are people who do not have the physical or mental ability to do certain
things. Just because they "MIGHT" be able to do a task, does not mean that
they should be allowed to do the task or given access....Just because a guy
in a wheelchair can swing a hammer does not mean that he can go out to a job
site and become a carpenter. He is not physically able to climb the scafold,
or lift heavy objects a certain height, etc. It is the same with the web and
something that we have to get real about. ..."
-=-
"...I believe that accessibility is a privalage and not a right. Now because
of ADA it is a law (not a right), but in my opinion it is a bad law which
gives those who wish to abuse it a lot of power, when in the end we will all
have to pay if it is taken to its fullest...this act is a very dangerous law
that has been put into effect...Forcing ADA on the world and internet just
kills choices, kills creativity...if ADA is forced, I forsee that websites
will make you sign a waver preventing you to sue just to access their
information. If ADA is enforced this is one way that I see the net fighting
back to combat bad law. Again because of this, your accessability will become
restricted.. ..."
-=-
"...disabled means NOT ABLE. It means there are certain things you are not
capable of doingin the capacity an ABLE person is. On the same token, DIS
ABLED always get the prime parking spots...."
-=-
"...One more law to yank the rights from the masses to serve the few... seems
to be a cancer running rampant in this country... lets just get it over with
and legislate thought.... no more thinking creativly, no more thinking
thoughts that someone else may object to.... no more thoughts that are not
ADA compliant, or that may not be racialy exceptable, or socialy exceptable,
or politicaly correct. I know this sounds off the wall....but so is this
insane desire to heap more laws and regulations on ourselves. We are fast
becoming Russia. Are more laws really the answer to this folks..???? I for
one take offense to this. I have nothing against making my site fully ADA
compliant..(whatever THAT is) I have done some things to move in that
direction....and if a person who was handicapped needed my information...I
would be very open to a kind request..but having it SHOVED down my
throat...leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth..and I believe these silly
laws..only further divide our nation into segregated camps...Can't people be
happy with what they have? I don't see anything but a bunch of lawyers and a
few people angry about their situation profiting from all this law. This is
my 1/2 cents worth... "
(Lovey's note: You may remember my post to this "obscure" list a few months
ago about the person who had posted on their website: "This site passed Bobby
and is ADA Compliant" - this is her 1/2 cents worth. She removed the Bobby
claim because she *said* she was threatened with a lawsuit. (was that you BB?
he he ) She also says she uses ALT tags "as a courtesy".)
-=-
And now for the "creme de la creme"
In a message dated 4/28/99 9:15:41 AM, somedickleheadedshmuck writes:
<< ...Up until now, I've been assuming that making a site ADA compliant would
require that the site could be "viewable" by the visually impaired. Now, I
realize that maybe a quadraplegic would like to see certain sites. At the
moment, I have no idea how a person would be able to navigate any site. I
must assume that there are browsers and plug-ins that would allow that
person to surf the web.
My current plan of action concerning this is to create a site that is
exactly what the customer wants in the latest browser technology (right now
IE4 and Nav4)....>>>
Knowing Mr. Dickleheadedshmuck personally, I do not think ANYONE would want
to look at his websites anyway. LOL
I am not discouraged though. We are 54 Million plus strong in the US alone.
Keep positive and moving forward.
These few webmasters will learn the hard way when their client's customers
start demanding more from WYSIWYG websites.
A quote from the same dickleheadedshmuck:
"...I do not nor do I ever intend to open up notepad and write HTML.Â That is
the job of the tools I use..."
Eventually these people will have to learn to write "real" html or go out of
business. Then they will be making Accessible websites in spite of
themselves. ha ha ha
There is some beautiful irony though - since the Apple II went on the market
every disabled/handicapped child in US public and private schools has been
learning to reading, math to write etc. on computers.
(My child w/Down's started at one month old 13 years ago - he may have an IQ
of 80 - but he can get around the computer and internet ike a pro. He has
made our computers do things we didn't know they could do - thank God for
Norton Dixk Doctor)
There is a new generation of PWD's who know their rights and will demand
them.
This is our legacy and I think this group has been doing a DAMN good job.
Keep it going.
Kindest regards,
L.Kelly
Who's afraid of the ADA?